Aviva Equity Release Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This system facilitates the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Aviva Equity Release’s changes. Even though using the software is not a prerequisite for Aviva Equity Release , demonstrating you can remain up to date with Aviva Equity Release’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Aviva Equity Release

Lenders frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Aviva Equity Release are not guidelines, they are instructions from a client. As with many clients, instructions can change - and they do change, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Aviva Equity Release has made 98 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 27.9 days. In total, 20% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Aviva Equity Release have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.14.1b 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance in joint names or lender interest noted
6.14.3 01/12/2014 CML
notification of non-renewal/cancellation for buildings insurance policy
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd panel lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)
5.15.2b 28/03/2011 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing : Management Company
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd approved lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : requirement as to whether a copy of the management company share certificate needs to be sent to them
16.3.7a 01/12/2010 CML
Transfer of Equity
Contact details at Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd for conveyancing panel lawyers for obtaining execution of transfer equity
16.4.2 01/12/2010 CML
Tenancy Agreements
Does Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd need to be sent a copy of the proposed tenancy?
5.5.1a 01/12/2010 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
5.5.1b 01/12/2010 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.6.4 01/12/2010 CML
Houses in Multipe Occupation
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd panel conveyancer requirements where the property comes within the definition of a house in multiple occupation
6.6.1 17/02/2010 CML
contact point if property is let/to be let and to check lender requirements on buy-to-let

Last update 09/07/2019

Aviva Equity Release Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires from members of the public

Is the fact that my conveyancer is not on the Aviva Equity Release Conveyancing panel that there is a problem with the standard of the firm’s conveyancing?
That would more than likely be a wrong assumption to make. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The most common reasons for removal are: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Aviva Equity Release.
Our solicitor has discovered a problem with the lease for the apartment we are buying. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our lawyer says that as he is on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Aviva Equity Release?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Aviva Equity Release are the client. A precondition to being on the Aviva Equity Release approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Aviva Equity Release). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Aviva Equity Release can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
Are there any apps to help find a local solicitor on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 20 kilometers to meet the conveyancer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel search on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Aviva Equity Release solicitor panel.
My solicitors in Manchester have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Aviva Equity Release. Is it case that being on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Aviva Equity Release Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Aviva Equity Release directly.
Is the case that all CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel?
It is true that some banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their approved list of firms.
Aviva Equity Release have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Aviva Equity Release or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Aviva Equity Release will tell you what documents they want. Aviva Equity Release will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Aviva Equity Release will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
At last I have had an offer on an apartment accepted, but there is a chain. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? When should I get the mortgage app going with Aviva Equity Release?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with Aviva Equity Release and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.